The completion of a £3.5 million school project to make more space for booming numbers of children has been marked with an opening ceremony.

Shefford Lower School in School Lane has seen its intake double in recent years – it is now home to 483 youngsters.

Following three years of work, the pupils are now benefiting from bright, airy classrooms along with a new sports area and play equipment.

During the opening, attended by chairman of Central Bedfordshire Council Caroline Maudlin and outgoing director of children’s services Edwina Grant, the children sang and released 138 balloons – one for each year there has been a lower school on the site.

They also buried a time capsule within the grounds.

Councillor Mark Versallion, who oversees children’s services at CBC, said: “The completion of this school expansion is excellent news. There’s a growing population in the catchment area of Shefford Lower School, and Central Bedfordshire Council has done well to provide these much-needed extra places.

“This work forms part of our five-year plan to invest over £100 million in thousands of new places for Bedfordshire children.”

A planning application to expand St Mary’s Lower School in Stotfold has also been submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council.

A two-storey extension to provide more classrooms and the extension of the existing hall is included in the plans.

The move will help the school in Rook Tree Lane cope with growing pupil numbers, expected to increase in the next 18 months from 225 children to 300, which has been put down to increased housing in the area.

A public consultation has been launched to gauge people’s views on the plans.

To find out more visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk and search the planning application section.